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Ray Thomas’ Scone inside mail for Saturday: Import ready to peak

Trainer Michael Freedman is expecting a former Irish sprinter to appreciate a softer track when he steps out at Scone on Saturday. Get Ray Thomas’s best bets and inside mail for the 10-race card.

Ray Thomas
5 min read
May 16, 2025 - 2:00PM
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The barrier draws weren’t kind to trainer Michael Freedman’s three stakes race entries with Givemethebeatboys, Seascape and Sylph all drawing barrier 10 or wide at the Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday.

But Freedman is pushing ahead with quiet optimism, in particular for his former Irish sprinter Givemethebeatboys in the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone on Saturday.

Freedman said Givemethebeatboys was slowly adapting to Australian racing as evidenced by the four-year-old’s last start third to Mazu in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick during the Sydney autumn carnival a month ago.

“We have given Givemethebeatboys three starts this campaign and like a few of those imports, he is probably still finding his feet a bit,’’ Freedman said.

“But having the ‘sting’ out of the ground helped him last start and if there is any ‘juice’ in the track on Saturday it will be more to his liking.’’

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Givemethebeatboys, a multiple stakeswinner in Ireland, is at $9.50 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Luskin Star Stakes which is the closer at the Scone stand-alone meeting.

Freedman revealed Givemethebeatboys was likely to be spelled after Saturday’s race.

“We trialled him between runs, he’s nice and fresh and I was happy with his gallop on Tuesday,’’ Freedman said.

“The Scone race is a nice option for him and although he has barrier 10, hopefully he can get a good run in the race. After Saturday we will probably give him a break and look for spring.’’

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Scone on Saturday

Seascape is a superbly-bred three-year-old filly by champion sire I Am Invincible and Freedman is aware how important it is to try and get some black type for her in the Listed $200,000 Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m).

But Seascape ($26), a winner of three of her 10 starts, had no luck in a stakes race at Eagle Farm last start after drawing wide and unfortunately she has been allocated barrier 14 (before scratchings) for Scone.

“It helps that there is a bit of rain around which could off-set the wide barrier,’’ Freedman said. “She’s going well and just needs some luck.’’

• Shayne O’Cass’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Scone on Saturday

Sylph ($8.50), also by I Am Invincible, is an emerging two-year-old filly having just her third start in the Listed $200,000 Woodlands Stakes (1100m) where she has drawn right off the track in barrier 18.

“It’s a horrible gate but we will take our chances, ride her for luck and see what she can do,’’ Freedman said.

Spanish Fox, winner of five races in succession last preparation, has been improved by his recent comeback run and looks over the odds at $23 for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).

“Because of how well Spanish Fox went last time in, he’s an awkward horse to place now,’’ Freedman said.

“His rating sits in the low 80s and I was going through the program but there is no 88s over 1100m or 1200m scheduled so he has to go into these 78s carrying big weights.

“But I thought his run first-up from a long break was good the other day because he didn’t really like the heavy 8 conditions there.

“If we get a slightly better track than what the heavy 8 we got at Hawkesbury then that would suit him.’’

Freedman also has Colophon ($8) entered for the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).

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SCONE SATURDAY BIG BETS, MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Jumeirah Beach $4.60-$3.70
Race 2: Due Calzini $8-$7, Rouge Moulin $11-$7.50
Race 3: Akaysha $4.60-$2.90 including a bet of $2500 at $3.70, Sylph $15-$8.50
Race 4: Oh Diamond Lil $3.60-$3.40
Race 5: Good Banter $6-$5.50, Miracle Spin $8-$6
Race 6: Zealously $4.60-$3.60, Left Field $8-$5.50
Race 7: Soft Love $3.50-$3.20, Thames $11-$4.80
Race 8: The Novelist $8-$7
Race 9: Zeitung $6-$5, Watch My Girl $8-$6.50
Race 10: Gallant Star $6-$4

EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1,2,3
Race 4: 1,2,5,6
Race 5: 2,5,14
Race 6: 4,6,7,16

QUADDIE
Race 7: 2,4,6,8
Race 8: 1,6,11
Race 9: 9,14,15
Race 10: 2,7,11,6

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PRICE CHECK

AKAYSHA (race 3) is the best-backed runner at the Scone stand-alone meeting. The promising filly has firmed from $4.60 to $2.90 favouritism with TAB Fixed Odds for the Woodlands Stakes including a bet of $2500 at $3.70. There’s also been a good move at big odds in the same race for SYLPH who has firmed from $15 to $8.50.

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SECTIONAL STARS

MISS ICELANDIC (race 6) enjoyed the run of the race but still impressed when she reeled off a fast final 600m of 34.32s to win at Randwick over 1000m on a soft 6 track surface when resuming last month. Admittedly, Miss Icelandic race was over a sprint trip but her 600m surge was the fastest closing sectional time for the meeting.

PISANELLO (race 8) returned to top form with a brilliant win at Canterbury over 1100m last start. The Godolphin sprinter ran his last 600m in a fast 34.29s, easily the fastest split of the meeting. Pisanello ran a flying 11.27s sectional between the 400m and 200m as he seized control of the race. He won very impressively over the 1100m course at the Scone Cup Carnival last year.

• 15 EXPERTS: Doomben 10,000 tips and betting strategies

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TRIAL POINTERS

OH DIAMOND LIL (race 4) struck a rich vein of form last summer with three wins and a second from four starts before spelling. The David Pfieffer-trained mare’s barrier trial form in recent weeks suggests she has returned in similar form with an easy Warwick Farm 1207m heat win on April 17 then a six lengths romp in heavy going over the same course and distance 12 days later. She hasn’t won first-up in two previous attempts but arguably has never been going better leading into a comeback run.

WHINCHAT (race 10), a stablemate of Oh Diamond Lil, is resuming after a 14-month break but he’s also trialling up a storm. He’s had three barrier trials to prepare for his comeback including an impressive win at Rosehill heat by nearly three lengths on April 11 before blitzing his opposition when scoring by nearly four lengths in a Warwick Farm 1200m heat on heavy going on April 29.

• Laurie’s Longshots: Form guru Laurie Sainsbury is keen on $23 pop on Saturday

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BEST BET

JUMEIRAH BEACH (race 1) looked to be out of contention when he struck trouble at the top of the straight when back in the field at Hawkesbury two weeks ago. But the Jason Deamer-trained gelding showed admirable determination to pick himself up and charged through the ruck to run down Northern Eyes near the line. Jumeirah Beach also produced a fast-finishing effort to win at Doomben before that and comes to Scone with an undeniable chance to complete a hat-trick of wins.

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VALUE

ZEITUNG (race 9) also comes out of the Hawkesbury meeting where she ran a game race to finish to Media World and Just Party in the Hawkesbury Guineas on a heavy track. The Godolphin filly has had four runs from a spell this preparation, improving steadily with each run as she did last spring when winning the Group 3 Vanity at the Flemington Cup Carnival when deep into her preparation. Zeitung comes up against older mares in the Dark Jewel Classic but she is racing well, handles all track conditions, and rates as a very good each way chance.

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Originally published as Ray Thomas’ Scone inside mail for Saturday: Import ready to peak

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/horse-racing/tips/ray-thomas-scone-inside-mail-for-saturday-import-ready-to-peak/news-story/beb54c6549e42c74414387b5896d841d